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100 people become Aussie citizens in ACT

Adam Gartrell

Vietnam-born Khu and Uyen Vu became Australian citizens today - but they were beaten to the punch by their baby boy.

Born just five days ago, Long Vu automatically became a citizen because his parents are permanent residents.

But mum and dad had to wait until Australia Day before they too could become fully fledged Aussies.

"We've called Australia home for a while now and today we've become Australian citizens," a smiling Mr Vu told the crowd at a citizenship ceremony in Canberra on Saturday.

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Mr and Mrs Vu and their eldest child Minh, three, who was born when his parents were on student visas - were among 100 people to take the citizenship pledge in the capital, with 22 attending a special lakeside ceremony attended by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Governor-General Quentin Bryce.

The ACT's group are among a record 17,059 people from 145 countries to take the citizenship pledge around the country this Australia Day.

Ms Gillard, who was born in the UK, said she was a proud member of the millions who had taken the pledge since 1949.

"As migrants - all four million of us - we did not just adopt a new country," she said.

"We helped transform it and enrich it and together, as new Australians and old, we made this experiment work."

The prime minister - who was about seven minutes late to the ceremony because of a timing mix-up - said Australia's newest citizens had followed many paths to get here.

"This is your new country, and you'll never want another. Welcome to citizenship. Welcome to Australia. Welcome home," she said.

World-renowned British actor Miriam Margolyes was among those to take the pledge in Canberra.

Known for roles in the television comedy Blackadder, Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence and more recently the Harry Potter films, Ms Margolyes first came to Australia in the 1980s.

Receiving her citizenship certificate from Ms Gillard, she joked about why it took her three decades to finally commit to citizenship.

"Well, you have to be sure don't you," she said to a loud cheer from the crowd. "Now I am!"

"I'm just very happy to be here and I will be with friends and the rest of my life will be joyous," she added.

National Australia Day Council chair Adam Gilchrist told the crowd new citizens will enjoy all the opportunities Australia can provide.

"There's no doubt we are richer, we are stronger and a more egalitarian country because they and many others choose to come here," he said.

He also spoke about Australia's love of sport.

"As fully fledged Australians, now you will know what cricket and tennis teams to support," he joked.

The ceremony was also attended by Australian of the Year Ita Buttrose, Young Australian of the Year Akram Azimi, Senior Australian of the Year Professor Ian Maddocks and Australia's 2013 Local Hero, indigenous leader Shane Phillips.